Psychosomatics

What is psychosomatic medicine?

Psychosomatic medicine reflects the fact that our mental state has a direct influence on our bodily functions. In medical science, these two parts of a person’s existence have been usually separated, enabling great technical advancements in medical technology and knowledge. 

However, in an everyday context, these two entities are not separated at all, but are in a constant and intensive exchange of information. Psychosomatic medicine pays attention to this fact, and offers a complex medical approach to treatment. In this sense, psychosomatic medicine truly puts into practice the bio-psycho-social model of health and illness. 

Why psychosomatic medicine?

If you suffer from any chronic health condition that does not respond properly to an ordinary treatment, you may be suitable for psychosomatic examination. Symptoms may include all kind of pains (often headache, back ache, abdominal pain, joint ache, etc.), functional disorders (such as constipation, diarrhea, feeling of dyspnea, feeling hot or cold, skin sensations, heart beat disorders, sexual dysfunctions), skin conditions (eczema, recurrent skin infections, resistant acne), general symptoms (fatigue syndrome, chronically elevated temperature, weight gain or loss), and many more. 

Generally, any physical symptom can be seriously influenced by psychosocial factors. The primary consideration for the patient is that the usual treatments do not resolve the symptoms, or that other physicians cannot even make a correct diagnosis (e.g. all the tests have been negative). These two conditions are usually seen in patients who may benefit greatly from psychosomatic treatment.

What psychosomatic examination look like? 

A psychosomatic physician will assess all aspects of patient's life including the family system, working situation, important relationships, the evolution of patient's health over time. These information will be integrated with the results of available bio-medical examinations in order to get a comprehensive picture of the patient. In short, psychosomatic physician will assess a patient’s biological, psychological and social (means social interactions and relationships) status to take a medical decision. 

Provided services:

• Diagnostic evaluation of medical conditions possibly of psychosomatic origin
• Psychosomatic counselling - evaluation of possible treatments
• Individual medical counselling
• Review of past medical reports or examinations
• Education on lifestyle and relationships from a psychosomatic perspective

Frequently addressed issues:

• Chronic gastrointestinal symptoms / pain (e.g. irregular defecation, abdominal pain, bloating, painful swallowing, repeated vomiting and more)
• Chronic respiratory symptoms / pain (e.g. chronic cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, lack of air and more)
• Chronic symptoms / pain of the cardiovascular system (e.g. rapid heartbeat, non-cardiac chest pain, fainting, rapid changes in blood pressure and more)
• Chronic symptoms / pain of the neurological system (e.g. vertigo, headache, nerve pain, vision problems and more)
• Chronic symptoms / diseases of unknown origin (e.g. unclear loss of consciousness, chronic fatigue syndrome, energy loss, etc.)
• Unexpected worsening of chronic diseases (e.g. decompensation of diabetes, high blood pressure or bronchial asthma and others)

A comprehensive bio-psycho-social approach to the patient in psychosomatic medicine can often be used to treat purely mental or relationship problems such as:

• Anxiety / Depression / Panic Attacks
• Burnout syndrome / Work-life balance / Stress management
• Family problems / Difficult relationship adult - child / Problems with parenthood
• Difficulty concentrating / Learning difficulties / School phobias
• Eating Disorders / Anorexia / Bulimia

PSYMED approach

Our fast-paced modern world creates health issues caused by environmental stressors and psychological factors that interact with individual hereditory vulnerabilities and cause bodily symptoms and diseases that affect client's work, study, relationships and their quality of life in general. 

PSYMED is an interdisciplinary platform of medical professionals that was established to remedy limitations of traditional disjointed approach to healthcare that views mind and body as separate. Our work respects current evidence based medicine principles along with individual personal values and spirituality. 

PSYMED uses a complex approach based on bio-psycho-social integration.